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Lee provides update on FEMA
Lee County staff provided an update at County Commissioners on the work to provide all requested and required documentation in response to the Federal
What does the future look like for Skyplex?
Special to SWFBT
Submitted
by
Karen P. Moore, Publisher
Donald Schrotenboer is managing partner of REALVIZORY, and a real estate acquisition and development advisor with extensive experience in Southwest Florida’s development industry. He previously served as president of the Private Equity Group and Alico Land Development, as well as director of real estate development for Ave Maria Development. The program focused on updates to the Skyplex Conceptual Master Site plan.
The latest land-use plans for Skyplex at Southwest Florida International Airport were recently presented by Schro-
tenboer at a local business luncheon.
Schrotenboer began, “Our process has been broken down into phases for the Lee County Port Authority. We have completed phase one and phase two. The first phase was really just understanding the lay of the land—the analysis, the existing conditions and conducting economic studies during that time.
“The property is 1,800 acres and extends from Treeline to the old airport terminal, past where Publix is and then fronts Daniels Parkway. So this has provided the backdrop to determine where we go from here.”
So why is the LCPA considering this plan?
SKYPLEX See page 15
Loan program boosts capital for area businesses
Special to SWFBT
Submitted by Jacob
Ogles, Editor
Khandyce Mosely set about this year to take a familiar recipe for coconut cream vodka and turn it into a commercial business. However the alcohol industry is complicated, requiring licensed distribution partnerships and plenty of inventory. A professional grant writer, Mosely has been able to navigate the bureaucracy. And thanks in part to a loan program with Urban Strategies Inc., the founder and CEO of Balosi Spirits launched her business in February. She secured a $15,000 loan that allowed her to distill 2,800 bottles at List Distillery, and she’s speaking with third party distributors to get the product on shelves.
“It has helped me to grow my marketing and communications,” Mosely said, “as well as just adding inventory. I have more of a liquid capacity.”
She’s one of the first participants in USI’s Community Development Financial Institution loan program which is open to small business owners in minority communities in a handful of cities. USI hopes to generate economic opportunities throughout the country through small loans to young businesses. USI CDFI Director Julian Wyatt oversees the effort, which now is operating in just three markets: Fort Myers, Baltimore, and Norfolk Virginia.
“Our goal is to propel entrepreneurs and minority business owners to what we’re referring to as prosperity and economic liberation through the creation of
IN THE NEWS
FloridaCommerce activates Emergency Bridge Loan Program
FloridaCommerce announced Gov. Ron DeSantis has activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, making $3 million available for businesses impacted by the recent severe weather that impacted South Florida. Small business owners in need of assistance are encouraged to visit FloridaJobs.org/EBL to
Business owners in Fort Myers gather for a market mixer and learn about USI’s CDFI loan program for entrepreneurs.
wealth, generating jobs and businesses,” Wyatt said.
A market mixer in June promoting the program attracted around 40 business owners, many headquartered in the Dunbar area. Most of the loans offered to businesses provide a bump of $15,000 to $30,000, providing a jolt in funding for upstart companies without burdening them with severe debt.
The funding comes courtesy of a $1.5 million grant from the Truist Foundation. The wider intent of the money is to erase a persistent racial wealth gap in the U.S. through generations of free market success.
See page 11
apply for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. Businesses in Collier, Lee, Broward, Miami-Dade and Sarasota counties, including sole proprietors, are eligible to apply.
The program provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury or physical damage due to flooding in South Florida. Interested applicants LOAN See page 4 FLOOD See page 3
Khandyce Mosely, a Fort Myers business owner, founded Balosi Spirits and pulled one of the loans.
While a SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) is not forgivable, business owners can quickly and easily find out if they are eligible for a Hardship Accommodation by calling (800) 659-2955 or by signing into their account and going to the Hardship Accommodation link for more information.
LEGAL & SECURITY
If business owners are ready or not, payroll is increasing
Ready or not employers, your payroll will increase, as the Department of Labor has issued a final rule for the minimum wage and overtime requirement of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Starting July 1, the standard salary level will increase from $684 per week (equivalent to $35,568 per year) to $844 per week (equivalent to $43,888 per year). This will be followed by another increase on Jan. 1 to $1,128 per week (equivalent to $58,656 per year). Beginning July 1, 2027, and every three years thereafter, the salary level increases will be determined based on the current wage data. Additionally, the highly compensated employee total annual compensation threshold will also see an increase from the current $107,432 to $132,964 on July 1 and in 2025 to $151,164. The increase in 2027 will be determined by current wage data.
BY KAREN SHEPHERD Guest Columnist
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is the misclassification of employees as exempt or nonexempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Exempt employees are not entitled to overtime pay, while nonexempt employees are. Failure to properly classify employees can result in expensive wage and hour disputes, back pay claims and fines. To avoid this mistake, leaders must thoroughly understand FLSA and keep up with its evolving regulations. In addition, I recommend regularly reviewing job descriptions and ensuring they accurately reflect the duties and responsibilities of each role.
To avoid misclassification, ask these questions:
• Is this employee entitled to overtime or not?
• Could the employee be paid a salary or an hourly wage, or just a salary?
• Can the employee earn any amount per job or must they earn at least $844 per week (depending on the year)?
• Can the employee work in any field, or do they need to fit into one of the seven exemptions (Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, Computer, Creative, Highly Compensated)?
• Does the employee need to meet the FLSA Duties Test to qualify for the exemption?
Depending on how you answered each of these questions will depend on the classification of your employee. Don’t wait until an issue has erupted, as it takes more time and money to fix the issue than just doing the right thing in the first place. Keep in mind that the DOL has no bias on the size of your business, so don’t think because you have a small business, you will avoid a DOL claim.
Karen Shepherd is the owner of HR by Karen, which supports small businesses with customized HR Consulting Services, Employee Handbooks, Professional Recruitment, Leadership Development and Facilitation and high-energy Motivational Presentations. Contact (239) 776-5919 or at Karen@hrbykaren.com. Visit HRbyKaren.com.
Fort Myers Chamber announces finalists for its annual awards
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber has named its finalists for the 2024 Chamber Awards, which will be held on Thursday, July 25 at 5 p.m. at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in downtown Fort Myers.
Recognizing members for outstanding contributions to the greater Fort Myers community, the program will feature an award ceremony to honor finalists and name honorees for their impact. The finalists for each category are as follows:
• Small Business of the Year Award: Face It Botox, Global Strategies and Tech in a Flash
• Large Business of the Year Award: Drake Ready Mix, Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. and Scotlynn USA
• The Community Impact Award: Dr. Nadine “Deanie” Singh (Premier Mobile Health Services), Roz Barminski (Hope Clubhouse of SWFL) and Stephanie Ink-Edwards (Community Cooperative)
• Entrepreneur of the Year: Ryan Carter (Scotlynn USA), Matthew Rebstock (Tech in a Flash)
and Janelle Miley (Global Strategies)
• The Nonprofit Excellence Award: Boys & Girls Club of Lee County, Gulf Coast Humane Society and Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida
• Young Professional of the Year Award: Kelly Thawley (Florida Southwestern State College), Meagan Baskin (Florida Gulf Coast University) and Melissa Mitchell (Priority Marketing)
The awards ceremony will also recognize the finalists and recipient of the Women in Business Committee’s APEX Awards.
Organized by the Chamber’s Women in Business Committee, the APEX Awards recognize local women with outstanding reputations for professionalism, philanthropy and leadership. This year’s three APEX finalists include Jeannine Joy (United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades), Debra Mathinos (The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center) and Dr. Sandra Pavelka (Florida Gulf Coast University).
Horizon Foundation continues successful collaboration with Edison Awards
As Thomas Edison once said, “There is no substitute for hard work.” That testament certainly rings true when it comes to the Horizon Foundation. Since 1991, the Foundation has put in the hard work to ensure Lee County businesses have the tools and support they need to thrive.
Some of that support includes ensuring Lee County is visible and viewed in a positive light by other entities across the country and around the world. One of these entities includes the Edison Awards, a global competition previously held in New York City that honors excellence in new product and service development, marketing, humancentered design and innovation.
The awards, named in honor of longtime Fort Myers winter resident Thomas Edison, were held this spring for the fourth time here in Southwest Florida. Horizon Council Chair Guido Minaya and I had the opportunity to welcome attendees to our region for this amazing event. We stressed the Foundation and business community’s unwavering commitment to supporting events like the Edison Awards, which has been instrumental as we continue to strengthen the economic environment in our area.
Guido said, “Thomas Edison would be amazed at the business landscape in Lee County today. Innovation is alive and well here, and it’s the most powerful tool we can use as we look to the future of Lee County. That’s why it is such an honor to host the annual Edison Awards event again this year.”
In addition to the widely heralded event, the boost to the Southwest Florida economy was strong. This year, the Edison Awards invested nearly $1 million into organizing the 2024 event, with the largest turnout of about 800 attendees across all
BY MARK STEVENS Guest Columnist
events, with 550 attending the gala. These attendees represent almost 500 hotel room stays which greatly contributed to our local sales tax and bed tax dollars. Additionally, nearly 400 people from out of town came to Fort Myers for the event with visitors from 15 foreign countries attending including: Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, China, United Arab Emirates, Dubai, Israel, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, Africa, France, the Netherlands and India.
Factoring in direct, indirect and induced impact, the economic contribution to our economy is approximately $5.5 million and growing, doubling last year’s economic impacts.
The Horizon Foundation proudly sponsors this world-renowned program and is invested in keeping innovation initiatives like this alive in Lee County. Fueled by the inspiration it brings, the Horizon Foundation, Horizon Council, Lee County Commission and Lee County Economic Development Office will continue to excel at attracting and retaining quality businesses, large and small, throughout Lee County.
Mark Stevens is chair of the Horizon Foundation and president of Stevens Construction, a Fort Myers-based company that provides construction management, general contracting and consulting services to clients and design professionals. Contact (239) 533-6806.
Richard D. Lyons, Esq. Abby Lyons, Esq.
LEGAL & SECURITY
Limited liability company: the preferred modern business entity
Why is the limited liability company the most popular form of business entity in Florida? The simple answer is its flexibility and power, especially in Florida, where the Legislature has worked diligently over the last 20 years to keep Florida’s LLC laws modern and competitive. Whether you are a sole proprietor or a large fund, the LLC can work for you. However, before you create your new limited liability company, it’s essential to consult with your CPA and business attorney. Professional advice ensures business owners make informed decisions about forming and managing an LLC. CPAs and business attorneys have specialized knowledge and expertise that can help navigate complex tax regulations and legal requirements, which can significantly impact the success and protection of the business. Consulting with these experts helps avoid pitfalls and ensures that the LLC is set up and managed in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, maximizing the advantage and minimizing risks. One of the significant benefits of a limited liability company is its tax flexibility. In Florida, LLCs enjoy the advantage of no state income tax. Under the Inter-
FLOOD PAGE 1
BY RICHARD LYONS Guest Columnist
nal Revenue Code, you can choose how your company is treated for tax purposes. Depending on your ownership structure, you may be taxed as a sole proprietorship, partnership, C corporation or S corporation. This choice can significantly impact your tax burden, so it’s crucial to engage with your CPA and business attorney to make the best decision for your business.
Another asset is the limited liability protection offered by an LLC. However, this protection is not automatic. Many business owners mistakenly believe that simply creating an LLC will protect their personal assets from creditors and judgment holders. Unfortunately, without adhering to specific legal requirements, you risk having a trial lawyer successfully pierce the veil of limited liability, putting your personal assets at risk. Business attorneys can guide you through the necessary steps to ensure your
LLC provides the intended protection. LLCs also play a crucial role in estate planning and business succession. For business owners, integrating your business into your estate planning can provide a favorable position. An LLC can facilitate the transfer of ownership interests to heirs or other business partners seamlessly, ensuring business continuity and minimizing potential conflicts. By working closely with a business attorney, you can structure your LLC to align with your long-term business and estate planning goals.
The competitive aspects of Florida limited liability companies are numerous, offering protection and flexibility to help your business grow and reach its full potential. Engaging with your CPA and business attorney can ensure you fully realize the value of an LLC, tailored to your specific business needs.
Richard Lyons is the co-founder of Lyons & Lyons, P.A. in Bonita Springs. His career expands over 25 years when he first served as general counsel to legendary New York Yankee owner, George M. Steinbrenner. Contact (239) 948-1823 or richard.lyons@lyons-law.com.
The county also has updated its website dedicated to this issue, LeeGov.com/ femacrs.The website now includes a document called “Lee County’s Floodplain Management Post-Hurricane Ian Com-
The county submitted documentation on all 414 properties identified by FEMA. County staff will remain available and responsive to FEMA staff as the agency reviews the documentation. The review could take about a month.
• Pylon signage
• Fiber internet available
• Zoning: Corridor Commercial
• Traffic Count: 24,500 AADT (2022)
The Lee County Commission is committed to retaining the CRS rating of 5 to maintain the discount available to residents with NFIP policies.
pliance Response to FEMA” as well as an executive summary. Both documents, which also were provided to FEMA, describe Lee County’s compliance activities, including why Lee County made the decisions it did after Hurricane Ian, the timing of those decisions, and how the county adhered to FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and CRS guidelines.
• Built-to-suit opportunities up to ±6,024 SF
• 1-Acre outparcel also available for build-to-suit
• Within the economically robust Pine Island Road Corridor
• Direct access to Matlacha, Pine Island & Charlotte County
Ceitus Pkwy
SWFL construction job growth exceeds U.S. and FL rates
Despite high interest rates and tight lending standards, ongoing labor shortages, slumping activity in the retail, commercial and multifamily segments and rising material costs, the construction industry has maintained a remarkable amount of momentum through the first half of 2024. Construction spending is up an even 10% over the past year.
That increase is largely due to surging manufacturing- and infrastructure-related activity, yet certain other segments like educational- and power-related construction have also performed well over the past 12 months. That spending has fueled ongoing hiring, and construction employment has increased 3.1% over the past year, significantly outpacing the 1.8% increase observed across all industries.
Non-residential construction has increased at a particularly rapid pace, expanding 3.8% between May 2023 and May 2024. Since the start of 2019, Florida has added construction jobs at a faster pace than the nation, and the Florida Gulf Coast region has added jobs faster than the state.
Within the Florida Gulf Coast region, the Cape CoralFort Myers area has added jobs at the fastest pace since the start of 2019, with the construction employment base up a blistering 34.7% over that span. North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton (+23.8%), Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island (+21.0%), and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater (+18.1%) have added jobs at a slower pace, albeit one still faster than the statewide industry.
“The impressive growth in construction employment across Florida’s Gulf Coast region, especially in areas like Cape Coral-Fort Myers, underscores the strength and potential of our industry,” said ABC Florida Gulf Coast President/CEO Steve Cona III. “Adding jobs at such a rapid pace, even amidst rising material costs and high interest rates, highlights the resilience and dedication of our
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workforce. This momentum is a clear indicator of the region’s bright future and the critical role it plays in driving Florida’s overall economic success.”
Despite this rapid hiring, construction labor costs in Florida have been relatively tame in recent years. Average hourly earnings for construction employees in Florida are up 18.3% over the past four years. While that’s fast growth by historical standards, it’s well below the 21.2% increase in average hourly earnings for nationwide construction workers.
Construction labor costs in Florida have been particularly well behaved over the past year, rising just 3.3%. That compares favorably to the 5.1% nationwide increase.
In addition to growing at a slower pace, construction labor costs in Florida remain favorable compared to the country at large. As of April 2024, average hourly earnings for construction workers in Florida stood at $32.19, more than 15% below the national average of $37.99.
Affordable labor provides a critical tailwind for Florida’s contractors at a time when material costs, which were tame throughout 2023, are once again rising. Construction input prices surged 3.5% higher during the first four months of 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index, led by rising copper, energy and concrete prices.
While energy prices have subsided since the most recent Producer Price Index data was released, rising international shipping rates will continue to put upward pressure on materials prices. Container freight costs are up more than 200% since the middle of December according to the Freightos Baltic Index.
And then there’s interest rates. Entering 2024, the consensus forecast had the Fed cutting rates three times over the course of the year. Hotter-than-expected inflation data has dashed those hopes, and it now appears that rates will remain elevated into 2025.
LOAN PAGE 1
can apply now through Aug. 12 or until all available funds are expended.
“Thanks to the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, FloridaCommerce is able to quickly launch the Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program to the bridge funding gap for small businesses affected by the flooding in South Florida,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “This program provides immediate, critical financial support, putting cash-in-hand to help businesses keep employees on payroll, make critical repairs and get their doors back open.”
Eligible small businesses may apply for loans of up to $50,000 through the program. Loans approved through the Emergency Bridge Loan Program are intended to “bridge the gap” be-
tween the time a disaster impacts a business and when a business has secured longer term recovery funding, such as federally or commercially available loans, insurance claims or other resources.
FloridaCommerce administers the Emergency Bridge Loan Program alongside its fiscal administrator, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation. Loans made under this program are short-term, zero-interest, personal loans using State of Florida funds. They are not grants and loans must be repaid by the approved applicant.
Visit FloridaJobs.org/EBL to learn more about the program, view the lending guidelines and required documentation and complete an application by the Aug. 12 deadline. Business owners who need further program information may call (833) 832-4494.
GUEST COMMENTARY
Love Sanibel businesses coming back
BY JOHN LAI
As SanCap Chamber president and chief executive officer, I wish to formally and profoundly thank St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church on Sanibel Island for its concerted mission to spotlight the business community of Sanibel and Captiva islands with its groundbreaking Love Sanibel Businesses Back program. By scheduling a calendar of opportunities to patronize local businesses and organizations through August, it shows heart for continued recovery from Hurricane Ian’s major economic setback. It also encourages residents and visitors to develop and maintain the habit of supporting local, small businesses at every opportunity on an ongoing basis – all day, every day.
I fully applaud and support the spirit of community St. Michael pushes to the forefront with this initiative. The schedule urges members of the greater island community to visit dozens of retailers, restaurants, service professionals and nonprofits throughout the summer. The calendar of days specified for different island locales is not necessarily meant to limit patronage to certain dates or businesses/organizations, but to raise awareness and create a mindset to “think local first.”
I, too, urge residents to first consider shopping, dining, playing and staying on-island when in the market for products, services and leisure activities. Encourage visiting friends and families to do the same. Our friends from surrounding communities who come to spend time at our newly replenished beaches, too, can help make sure the infrastructure for their sandy playgrounds remains strong by supporting the communities that support our beaches and the attractions that complement them.
Once again, I thank St. Michael for its forethought and time in setting Love Sanibel Businesses Back into motion as a continual way-oflife. I thank, too, all those devoted island-lovers who have been doing exactly what the initiative intends by buying that book or Father’s Day present, planning date-night dinner, taking the family on a day outing –doing all that right here where we live and work. By supporting one another, we assure the special island lifestyle will continue to return, strengthen and flourish. Keep bringing on the love.
John Lai has served as president and chief executive officer for SanCap Chamber since 2017. He has worked within the island tourism industry since 1995. Lai was recently named the 2024-25 Chair for the Visit Florida Board of Directors. Contact (239) 472-2348 or john@ sanibel-captiva.org.
Industry Appreciation Awards applications due July 5
Applications are being accepted for the 2024 Industry Appreciation Awards through July 5. These awards recognize Lee County’s top businesses and business leaders on Oct. 25, at Caloosa Sound Convention Center in Fort Myers.
This year, awards will be given in nine categories: Large Business of the Year; Small Business of the Year; Large Manufacturer of the Year; Small Manufacturer of the Year; Partnership Award; Supplier Diversity Award; Innovative Technology Award; Diverse Business Award and Community Spotlight Award.
Now in its 31st year, the Industry Appreciation Awards recognize Lee County businesses and their leaders that drive the local economy, employ the workforce and shape their industries. The awards program is sponsored by the Horizon Foundation, Horizon Council and Lee County Economic Development.
“As a business leader myself, I’m well aware of the challenges that entrepreneurs face in our community, but also the tremendous opportunities, collaboration and support system that help all businesses – large and small – continue to thrive,” said Mark
Ricardo Rattis.
G&R Design and Construction opens
The rain and floods did not stop a group of prominent Southwest Floridians to be part of the grand opening of G&R Design and Construction Group on June 13. They wanted to share this major milestone with owners Giselle and Ricardo Rattis. For Giselle and Ricardo, the opening of G&R was their dream come true. After losing their home and their business due to hurricane Ian, they were finally ready to open the doors to their new concept, G&R Design and Construction Group.
The G&R Group takes pride in being a pioneer of the newest and most innovative concept in custom furniture and interior design. G&R’s one of a kind “Model Home Showroom,” features a boutique concept where design firms, builders and developers will find decorative items and more, new alternatives for renovations or new home constructions.
During the inauguration, besides being delighted with the live violin sounds of local violinist Lena, guests were able
to appreciate firsthand our carefully designed environments, which bring the feeling of being at home. Every detail was thought out to provide a unique and inspiring experience, reflecting the sophistication and functionality that are the hallmarks of their company.
G&R’s exclusive partnership with Finger, a renowned Brazilian company specializing in custom high-quality cabinets, allows them to offer their clients the most sophisticated and personalized cabinetry for their homes.
Additionally, G&R’s curated selection of home decor products and madeto-measure curtains reflects the latest trends and provides the perfect finishing touch to your space.
The G&R Group also partners with the most respected brands in the industry, such as Cambria, Consentigo, Daltile, Esmer and Furguson. Strategic partnerships clients will have access to the best materials and products on the market, resulting in projects that exceed expectations.
Stevens, president of the Horizon Foundation and president of Stevens Construction.
“The Industry Appreciation Awards celebrate and honor business excellence, and we encourage business leaders, customers and community members to highlight the businesses they feel are leading the way by nominating them for an award,” said Guido Minaya, chair of the Horizon Council.
The Industry Appreciation Awards event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25 at Caloosa Sound Convention Center, 1375 Monroe St. in Fort Myers. Visit IndustryAppreciationAwards.com.
Innovative Food Holdings begins contract with distributor, launches Cheney Brothers business
Innovative Food Holdings, a national seller of gourmet specialty foods to professional chefs, announced a new contractual partnership with a top five U.S. broadline distributor partner and the completion of the associated technology integration.
In addition, the Company announced the launch of the Cheney Brothers business after a successful technology integration.
First, the new partner contract is with a top-five U.S. broadline distributor.
This new contract governs the terms of a deep partnership, and will introduce the company’s broad catalog to the distributor’s primary website and sales channel.
This presents a significant opportunity for the company, given the large size of the partner. With the technology integration already complete, today’s news marks the launch of the business, with orders and products already actively flowing.
Second, the company is announcing the launch of the Cheney Brothers business.
After meeting an aggressive integration timeline, IVFH can now sell its thousands of specialty foodservice items directly to Cheney Brothers customers through the Cheney Brothers Stock Room drop ship website.
Both partnerships largely rely on IVFH’s drop-ship platform, the majority of which consists of a network of highly unique, well-vetted vendors, allowing the Company to build and scale these businesses with little investment in infrastructure, inventory or expenses.
As both of these new businesses begin to ramp up, the company expects them to begin contributing to its sales growth in the second half of the year.
Bill Bennett, CEO of IVFH, remarked, “This new contract and these new business launches are an exciting step forward in demonstrating the growth potential for IVFH. As we mentioned on our recent earnings call, we’ve been highly focused for months on opportunities to expand our profitable, asset-light drop-ship offering and it’s great to see these efforts begin to bear fruit. Most importantly, our new partnerships are evidence of our platform’s wide appeal, strong value proposition, and ease of deployment. As I’ve mentioned before, we are focused on developing many similar relationships, and will continue to announce them as they formalize. That said, we remain focused on execution, and intend to develop each of these opportunities to maximize their potential.”
Local community members gather to celebrate the grand opening of G&R Design and Construction Group, led by Giselle and
New health degree programs at FSW to help meet demand
Florida SouthWestern State College’s School of Health Professions will soon launch three new programs at the FSW Charlotte Campus in Punta Gorda. These programs are tailored to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in the healthcare industry and underscore FSW’s commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education to students in Southwest Florida.
FSW’s College Credit Certificate in Medical Assisting Specialist is a three-semester College Credit Certificate embedded within the Associate in Science Advanced Medical Assisting degree, tailored to provide students with the skills and knowledge to perform clinical duties in various patient care settings. Graduates are prepared to assist with taking vital signs, minor surgical procedures, examination room preparation, medication administration, phlebotomy, electrocardiogram administration and various other clinical tasks in a variety of healthcare settings.
Upon completion, students will be eligible to become certified in Phlebotomy, EKG Technician and
Clinical Medical Assistant. With these certifications, students can work in the healthcare field while continuing to pursue their studies for an Associate in Science degree in Advanced Medical Assisting.
FSW’s Associate in Science in Advanced Medical Assisting degree will build upon the knowledge and skills gained after earning the College Credit Certificate in Medical Assisting Specialist and provide students with expanded understanding of the core principles, practices and skills of the medical assistant and in an administrative support capacity such as patient communication, electronic health records, processing incoming/outgoing patients (scheduling, collecting fees, or arranging for payment), medical coding and billing and processing insurance claims. Upon completion of the program, students will also be eligible to pursue certification in Certified Medical Assistant, Electronic Health Records Specialist and Billing and Coding Specialist.
FSW’s Associate in Science in Physical Therapist Assistant program will prepare students for rewarding careers in physical therapy by providing hands-
LEGAL & SECURITY
on expertise in therapeutic exercises, techniques for improving mobility and relieving pain and the use of specialized equipment. Graduates of the PTA program will play a pivotal role in facilitating patient recovery and function under the supervision of a Physical Therapist. The program will begin in January, pending accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
Over the next decade, an average of 114,600 medical assisting jobs are anticipated annually. Between 2022 and 2032, there is a projected job growth rate of 19.5% in Florida. Physical therapist assistant jobs are expected to increase, with a projected job growth rate of 42%, 18,100 job openings projected annually in the U.S. including 1,340 in Florida.
“We are excited to expand our offerings within the School of Health Professions at our FSW Charlotte Campus,” said Dr. Tami Such, dean of the School of Health Professions at FSW. “These new programs will provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in rewarding and impactful healthcare careers.”
Ruling highlights need for procurement opportunities for Black women
By Lisa Marlow Guest Columnist
The recent federal court of appeals decision to suspend the Fearless Fund’s venture capital grant program is an opportunity to highlight alternative funding resources, especially for minority-owned business enterprises.
In light of a series of court decisions that limit the resources minority entrepreneurs need to thrive, I wanted to share the latest research from the Urban Institute’s Brett Theodos, Sophie McManus, and Tomi Rajninger. This in-depth report explores the untapped power of government procurement and provides evidence-based research to support using race-neutral
strategies to improve the procurement process. The report finds that these approaches will benefit all vendors, especially small business owners of color or firms newer to the government contracting process.
Evaluating research curated from more than three dozen interviews with leaders and staff in government procurement and other stakeholders in this area, the findings show that:
• Procurement can be transformative: Creating open and fair contracting processes can boost financial stability and wealth for diverse business owners and their communities.
• Multiple strategies to remove barriers are necessary: A wide range of tools and approaches should be employed—in tandem with political support—to
make contracting equitable. These strategies include: Bolstering outreach and offering technical assistance to small businesses navigating the contracting process; Developing data systems to track vendors by type of firm and owner attribute; Paying vendors in a timely manner.
I invite you to check out this recent research on the importance of removing barriers to contracting opportunities and ensuring that equity-focused procurement strategies are institutionalized and responsive to the ever-changing legal landscape.
Lisa Marlow is manager of Communications, Housing & Communities for the Urban Institute. Contact (202) 261-5528.
ECHO sets dates for annual agriculture conference
ECHO, a nonprofit global agriculture development organization, is hosting its 31st annual International Agriculture Conference from Nov. 12-14 in Fort Myers. The conference takes place at ECHO’s North American Impact Center and the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers Gulf Coast Hotel.
The three-day event is devoted to eradicating hunger and improving lives through agriculture, clean water and community development. Dozens of breakout sessions and workshops will provide opportunities for learning with others while speakers from around the world will share their agricultural experiences for improving the lives of millions facing food insecurity daily.
Topics include sustainable farming, plant grafting, natural farming, mobilizing churches for agricultural ministry and building resilience against hunger through animal agriculture.
The conference will be especially beneficial for current or aspiring international or US-based agricultural development workers. Those encouraged to at-
tend include:
• Short-term or career missionaries.
• National community leaders and farmers.
• Community Gardeners
• Leaders of development/relief-oriented organizations.
• University undergraduate, graduate students and professors.
• International project volunteers (e.g., Peace Corps).
“This is always an inspiring event,” said ECHO CEO Abram Bicksler. “We have hundreds of people from all over the world attend each year, sharing ideas and strategies on how to improve the lives of impoverished families and communities and we’re looking forward to another great conference of fellowship and networking this November.”
Bicksler added that although ECHO continues to do transformative work around the globe, there is still a great need. He said the statistics show there are about 793 million hungry people in the world and 44 million in the United States alone.
ECHO delegates attend a workshop with Jesse Wiser at the International Conference
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET
GUEST COMMENTARY
Charlotte County Commercial Real Estate: Winners and more winners
The Southwest Florida real estate market has been hot for the last six years. It took approximately 10 years after the 2008 great recession for commercial real estate pricing to start to grow again. Once pricing started moving, there has been no stopping the activity.
After investing substantially in Fort Myers city proper and seeing great growth and profit, I decided to head to North Fort Myers about six years ago. That land was cheap and the future looked good.
Six years later, my investments have doubled and tripled, so once again I decided it was time to head north again. This time, south Charlotte County and Punta Gorda seemed to be prime.
The pace of development in both North Fort Myers and Punta Gorda is staggering. Apartments, large housing developments, commercial retail and warehousing are bursting onto the scene.
The U.S. 41 North Corridor, Burnt Store Road Corridor, North Tamiami Trail, Bayshore Road in Lee County along with Tuckers Grade, Taylor Road, Burnt Store Road, Jones Loop Road and the Punta Gorda Airport area in South Charlotte are on fire.
There are still some values to be found but nearly all parcels have traded in the last six years. Luckily, the pricing started low and now profit can still be had with the right purchase.
Oct. 3, we purchased a 6.91-acre industrial property on Taylor Road with frontage on Burnt Store Road just north of Jones Loop Road for $850,000. That translates to $123,000 an acre. We purchased 20 acres at Punta Gorda Airport with ECAP zoning on May 13 for $2,750,000, which equates to $137,500 per acre.
Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park zoning is the greatest available different uses zoning I have ever seen. It was the brainchild of a forward-thinking Charlotte County Commission that bulk-zoned 4,000 acres surrounding Punta Gorda airport to spur commercial development. It may have taken nearly 20 years but now it is happening. ECAP zoning offers nearly any conceivable industrial, commercial and retail applications one would want. I share with you the pricing of the properties I purchased to stress that you
BY RANDY KRISE Guest Columnist
cannot find a usable industrial zoned acre in Lee County under $400,000.
So how quickly will this land catch up? Very quickly.
Punta Gorda and North Fort Myers are on a collision course. I have predicted for years that these two areas would become seamless — bumper to bumper. Just a few years ago, once you passed Pine Island Road heading north on Tamiami Trail, you were virtually alone until you reached downtown Punta Gorda. That is no longer true. We bought a building three years ago on U.S. 41 just south of Tuckers Grade for $650,000. It is a nice 7,500-square-foot retail building on a corner location. I have two prospects right now at $1,750,000 and it will trade soon.
Will this current cycle last? I believe it will last due to the amount of in-migration to Florida. The population increase will not stop and our favorable governments are making it a reliable business destination with relatively low taxation. The transportation corridor of U.S. 41 and Interstate-75 makes this a perfect distribution area to service the growing SW Florida area from Tampa to Marco Island.
People often call and want to invest, but they don’t pull the trigger. They call me back and say, ‘You had that $6,000,000 retail center for sale three years ago for $3,000,000.’ I say, ‘You should have bought it. It is the same center I bought for $1,800,000 seven years ago.’ When I had it for sale for $2,500,000, one potential buyer said, ‘I could have bought it for $1,800,000 last year.’ Once again I said, ‘You should have bought it.’ Remember, the median price of a home in the U.S, in 1940 was $2,938. Today it is $407,000 ($425,000 in Lee County.)
They are not making any more land!
Randy Krise, CCIM, is the broker/owner of Krise Commercial Group in Fort Myers and can be reached at (239) 633-8672 or randy@krisecg.com.
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank begins rebuilding McGregor Branch
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has started rebuilding its McGregor Branch on McGregor Bouelvard. The building experienced considerable flood damage from Hurricane Ian and required major reconstruction. Since the storm, the bank’s McGregor team has been operating out of a fully functional mobile banking trailer on-site.
Demolition of the damaged building is complete and construction of the new building is expected to begin in August. Extreme Painting and Contracting will construct the new facility, designed by Moore & Spence Architects and Island Interiors of Sanibel. It will feature a coastal contemporary design along with a two-lane drive-thru, drive-up ATM, solar panels, safety deposit boxes and a community room with video conferencing capabilities. The community room will be available to customers and community organizations to use at no cost during business and after hours.
“We’re thrilled to commence on the rebuild of our McGregor Branch that was devastated by Hurricane Ian. This project has been a long time coming, and we appreciate the patience and support of our employees and customers,” said Jonathan Ruiz, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank senior vice president and director of IT and facilities opera-
tions. “We look forward to welcoming everyone back to a new and improved location that will serve our customers even better than before.”
Founded in 2003, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has seven locations open throughout Lee County. On Sanibel, the Periwinkle Branch, located on Periwinkle Way, sustained considerable storm damage and is projected to reopen later this year.
The bank is nationally ranked in the top 2% best-performing community banks by S&P Global Market Intelligence out of more than 4,400 banks with assets under $1 billion. It is wellcapitalized, with more than $729 million in total assets, and generates one of the highest returns on equity of all Florida banks. The bank employs more than 100 employees, and more than 60% are current shareholders.
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s team members provide customized individual and business banking services and specialize in residential and commercial lending. The bank offers free personal and business checking, deposit accounts with competitive interest rates, instant issue debit cards and a full array of digital banking products and services, including mobile banking apps, CardHub, online bill pay, Zelle, Positive Pay and ACH Manager.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET
Is Southwest Florida headed for
The Urban Land Institute’s inaugural Southwest Florida Focus Real Estate Forum recently shone a spotlight on responsible land use and sustainable community development in our region. I was honored to be a featured speaker at this event, which brought together industry leaders, professionals and stakeholders to discuss development trends in Southwest Florida.
This article is part one of a six-part series discussing some of the most important points from that presentation, which focused on the six most critical questions about development and commercial property in Southwest Florida for the remainder of 2024 and beyond.
As property values, interest rates and inflation have all spiked over the past few years, skeptics have worried about a seemingly inevitable downturn like the one we experienced during the Great Recession. This brings us to our first critical question: Is Southwest Florida headed for a “doom loop?”
The term “doom loop” might be new to some, but its implications are clear: it describes a cycle of events that spirals downward into an economic slump. While some national economic indicators may offer reason for concern on the surface, the prospect of a doom loop is not likely on the horizon for our region because of our regional strengths.
BY GARY TASMAN Guest Columnist
Regional Economic Indicators
Southwest Florida continues to show robust job growth with the addition of more than 11,000 jobs in 2023, keeping our unemployment rate below the national trend. In Lee County alone, there has been a 4% surge in new businesses and projections show every sector growing by one to three percent annually over the next five years.
Tourist tax revenues are climbing as well, thanks to our successful and ongoing rebound from Hurricane Ian. As consumer confidence improves, residents appear willing to increase their spending levels, with consumer sentiment numbers also on the rise from 2023.
Regional Commercial Development Trends
Although other parts of the country are plagued with commercial vacancies, Southwest Florida’s rapid residential and business growth have kept vacancy numbers very low. Nationally, nearly one in five (19.7%) offices sit vacant, but our region’s office vacancy rate stands at a paltry 4.1%. Local
industrial and retail vacancy rates are also well below the national level. Although FGCU’s Southwest Florida Real Estate Report indicates commercial property sales may have plateaued, our limited supply and robust demand suggest that the cost of renting commercial space will likely continue to grow in Southwest Florida.
This differs greatly from what our region experienced in the early 2000s. At that time, speculative investments overwhelmed the real estate and construction markets, producing excess inventory and paving the way for economic collapse.
Southwest Florida’s Resiliency
Although our region has certainly faced challenges over the past two years, current economic indicators show that Southwest Florida should continue to be resilient, even as other parts of the country may begin faltering. However, economic cycles are natural and what goes up must inevitably go down. When our region does eventually face a downturn, we anticipate a soft landing, not a recession, in Southwest Florida.
Gary Tasman is a CEO and Principal Broker with Cushman & Wakefield. Contact (239) 489-3600 or info@cpswfl.com.
Bay Street Yard celebrates grand opening in Fort Myers
Bay Street Yard is now open as downtown Fort Myers’ newest destination for live entertainment, craft beer, artisan cocktails and food trucks.
More than 300 dignitaries, community partners and guests came together on May 29 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the grand opening of the new venue, located on Bay Street in Fort Myers.
Bay Street Yard is a casual, yet upscale, outdoor entertainment venue with seating for over 300 people, two full-service bars and three unique food truck concepts serving up tailored menu options. With an emphasis on entertainment, the 12,000-square-foot venue offers a covered stage for live performances and popular DJs, an impressive 8-foot by 13-foot LED TV screen to view sporting events and other performances and a variety of outdoor games such as cornhole, ping pong and bocce.
Co-owned by longtime Southwest Floridians David Fry and Randy Henderson, the destination is managed in partnership with Mainsail Lodging & Development and led on-site by General Manager Mimi Wallace and a team of 30 full- and part-time employees with an emphasis on top-tier customer experience and service.
“It’s exciting to see our vision come to life here in downtown Fort Myers, and we welcome the community to come out to enjoy an outdoor experience that’s
complete with top-tier entertainment, craft beverages and dining, along with exceptional customer service,” Fry said.
“We’re proud to open our doors as a new destination to socialize, entertain and be entertained.”
Bay Street Yard touts an extensive bar menu, with signature cocktails. A wide selection of wine and spirits are on the menu; a craft beer list features rotating local and national spotlights. Bottle service is also available for VIP guests.
Bay Street Yard is partnering with Paradise Hospitality Group to bring three permanent food trucks that
are unique to the venue. Concepts include Bay Street Butcher, Bonzai Asian Street Cuisine and Rick’s Taco Cartel.
For American classics, Bay Street Butcher serves up shareables such as BBQ Skins, Bay Street Wings, Crispy Cluck Bucket and Wagyu Sliders. Handheld options include the Classic Smashburger and Cheesesteak Melt and Glizzies range from classic Chili Cheese to the Spicy Laura.
Bonzai features Asian street cuisine with highlights such as coconut shrimp, Kung Pao chicken dumplings, pork wings, ahi tuna crisp, pork belly bao buns, Bonzai noodles and tenderloin and chicken skewers.
Rick’s Taco Cartel spotlights Mexican street cuisine with Guacamole, Hatch Chili Queso, Baystreet Nachos, Elote Bites and Churros. Taco options include Pastor, Birria Con Queso, Chorizo, Pibil Chicken and Vegan served on corn tortillas.
Featuring an urban-chic atmosphere complete with shipping containers and greenery, Bay Street Yard also offers The Loft, a second level for VIP seating and exclusive experiences for parties of eight or more. Additionally, the destination will serve as a venue for private events, corporate functions, nonprofit fundraisers, weddings and reunions, with accommodations for 451 people and virtual streaming capabilities.
Bay Street Yard co-owner David Fry speaks at ribbon cutting.
Legal aid for children, teens with nowhere else to turn
For nearly 60 years, the nonprofit Lee County Legal Aid Society has provided no-cost, civil legal aid to low-income residents of our community. Our newest effort: help establish a pathway to legal citizenship for abused, neglected and abandoned immigrant children and teens.
Through no fault of their own, far too many children and teens from other countries wind up in our community with no adults in their lives and with nowhere else to turn. Some have aged out of the foster care system or were brought here under tragic circumstances by human traffickers.
The three-year effort began in 2022 and is funded by a federal American Rescue Plan Act grant, administered by the United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties. We work in cooperation with a host of community partners, including Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Venice and the Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition.
The pathway to legal citizenship begins for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status before Lee County Family Court. The SIJS designation is a special visa category established by Congress in 1990 that permits immigrant children who are dependent on a juvenile court to “selfpetition” and obtain lawful permanent resident status. The juvenile court must first determine that family reunification is not a viable option and that it is not in the child’s best interest to return to their home country.
Once the dependency petition is approved, the case is sent to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for consideration of an adjustment of status to lawful permanent residency. That classification then allows those clients to apply for a work permit and Social Security card.
That’s the path taken by our client Wilson, who came to this country on
CAPITAL PAGE 1
Wyatt said the USI CDFI program was already providing supportive services and resident services to individuals in the Dunbar area before the launch of the loan program, so it the institution already has some connections in the region.
“It just made sense we have a already a geographic presence in footprint in Fort Myers, and that market was also of interest for the Truist Foundation,” he said.
At the event, Shanisa Trotman, founder of Klevij, touted her own company’s success. She cheered the availability of capital for entrepreneurs “It has helped my business out tremendously,” Trotman said of the program. “It’s an amazing thing for business owners in Fort Myers.”
Klevij, a three-year-old business, grew its reach marketing reach considerably. The company sells breast deodorant, which Trotman touts as a product useful for anyone “ because every part of you deserves the best.”
She ended up pulling a $15,000 loan
BY EUNICE LINOT Guest Columnist
his own from Guatemala and was placed in foster care after running away from a Florida Department of Children and Families facility (to protect the privacy of Wilson, we only refer to him by first name).
With his SIJS status in hand, Wilson is now working in the Fort Myers area, has secured housing and is a new father with the hopes now of providing a far better life for his own child in a safe, secure and healthy environment.
From the start of 2023 through March of this year, our agency filed 50 other SIJS petitions on behalf of youth who crave the opportunity to legally live, work and study in the U.S. The benefits are reciprocal; following this pathway to citizenship not only strengthens our community’s fabric but also bolsters our economy and quality of life.
Our work narrows the access to justice gap among those who cannot afford a private attorney in civil cases. Unlike in criminal law, there is no constitutional right to an attorney in civil law, which includes landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosures, evictions, probate, debt collection, child custody cases and domestic violence orders of protection.
We’re deeply appreciative of our community partners in this renewed effort and stand ready to zealously advocate for those in need of assistance, including society’s most vulnerable.
Eunice Gedeon Linot is an immigration services and Florida family law attorney with the Lee County Legal Aid Society. Contact (239) 334-6118. Visit LeecountyLegalAid.org
through the USI program, an amount decided on after careful discussion of finances with the organization. “I want to be able to build business credit and not be afraid of how to pay a loan,” she said.
The advice of how to balance the growth and needs of the business was a valuable service on top of the capital, she said. The product is now available in Walmart and on Amazon.com, able to reach audiences around the country as she grows her business in Fort Myers.
Mosely similarly pulled a $15,000 loan. She said it’s important programs like this are available in minority communities, where the same support structures don’t exist, particularly for those navigating complicated marketplaces. “I do feel as a minority, we don’t get the same opportunities as some nationalities do when starting up businesses,” she said.
Wyatt said the loans are available to any owners who already have established a business on paper, but USI CDFI will help budding entrepreneurs through that process as well.
“Our staff will help you make the pathway to get established,” he said.
The easiest way to protect your critical business data
You probably already know humans are the weakest link when it comes to protecting your business’ critical data. Cyber criminals know that too and they try to exploit our humanity when they attack.
Imagine, your employee is stressed at an impending deadline, they’re trying to finish a task and get out of the office before the afternoon thunderstorm hits or they’re with you recovering from a hurricane. In these critical moments, it’s all too easy to quickly click on a link in a phishing email, reply to a scam email or enter credentials into a spoofed website.
One of the easiest ways to protect your business from such simple human imperfections is Multi-Factor Authentication. MFA enhances security by requiring multiple forms of verification to prove identity, which significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
What are the benefits of MFA for business?
• Enhanced security. MFA makes it much harder for unauthorized parties to access sensitive data. Microsoft reports that MFA can prevent 99.9% of account attacks.
• Compliance with regulations. Many industries have strict regulatory requirements for data protection. MFA helps businesses comply with these regulations, avoiding potential legal penalties.
• Reduced Risk of Data Breaches. By requiring MFA, you minimize the chances of a successful breach, protecting both the company’s and customers’ data.
• Improved Customer Trust. Customers are more likely to trust businesses that take their data security seriously.
• Cost Savings. While implementing MFA may have upfront costs, it can save businesses money in the long run by preventing costly data breaches and the associated fallout.
As a business leader, knowing the importance is one thing. Convincing
BY BRANDI COUSE Guest Columnist
your employees to utilize MFA may be another. Employees can be resistant to utilizing MFA because they perceive it to be inconvenient or complicated. They may have privacy concerns with using their mobile devices or simply be resistant to change.
The biggest reason for resistance is, they may not understand their role in defense.
Overcoming employee objections:
• Create and enforce company-wide policies on the required use of MFA.
• Provide regular and consistent training on the use of MFA and its importance in protecting the company.
• Foster a culture where your employees are seen as the first line of defense, where they are championed for catching a phish and celebrated for their role in protecting the business.
• Work with your IT Team to ensure MFA is enabled on computer logins, systems, software and vendor websites. Discover if they provide training assistance to overcome any fear or complexity.
MFA is a critical, mostly economical security tool that offers numerous benefits for businesses.
By educating users on the importance of MFA and simplifying its implementation, businesses can create an environment where we humans are less likely to accidentally let a criminal into your castle.
Brandi Couse is the co-owner and CEO of MashGrape Technologies, based in SWFL, providing enterprise level IT support and security to businesses of all sizes across the nation. Contact (239) 990-3121 or solutions@mashgrape. com.
SWFL Inc. announces 2024 INCredible Awards winners
SWFL Inc. hosted its annual INCredible Awards celebration and announced its 2024 award winners. Finalists were selected from several dozen applications and nominations throughout Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties.
“Southwest Florida is full of optimism, energy, and resilience – and it is all thanks to businesses like yours that put in the hard work and effort day in and day out,” said Tiffany Esposito, president and CEO of SWFL Inc. “I cannot express enough gratitude for your investment and commitment to the continued growth and well-being of our region.”
Caroline Vives-Vietri from Florida Gulf Coast University was awarded the INCredible Award, which is given to a graduate of Leadership SWFL who exemplifies the values of the program by demonstrating leadership, community stewardship and a desire to continue learning and growing professionally. The Innovation Award celebrates a small business that creates unique and forward-thinking
solutions to address the needs of its clients and was presented to d3 Creative Studio.
The Nonprofit of the Year Award recognizes a nonprofit organization that is seen as a leader in the nonprofit sector. FMB Strong was selected as the winner for its efforts dedicated to supporting our community in Fort Myers Beach. They have provided much-needed supplies through food pantry donations, ensuring that no one goes hungry in the aftermath of hurricane Ian. Today, they continue to make a meaningful impact on our community.
SWFL Inc. began presenting the Small Business of the Year Award in 2001 to recognize local businesses that go above and beyond to give back to the community. This year, the award was presented to Christopher Alan Homes.
The Veteran-Owned Business of the Year Award celebrates a veteran-owned business that has demonstrated strong business performance and exemplifies significant contributions to Southwest Florida.
LEGAL & SECURITY
The digital dangers of working on vacation
Summer vacation offers a great opportunity to relax and take a break from the day-to-day grind of work. Dedicated employees often find it difficult, though, to go cold turkey for a week or two. They may check emails a couple times a day, update a task or join a few Zoom meetings.
And that’s a problem.
When we’re in the office, our devices and the network are protected by a firewall and antivirus program, and generally, our internal radar is on alert and can quickly sniff out a phishing attempt. When we’re on vacation, though, our guards are down and our minds are focused on margaritas, sunshine and family fun – not on cybersecurity.
It’s common for employees to use laptops, tablets and cell phones to complete work tasks while on vacation. Public Wi-Fi is the source of many cybersecurity concerns, especially open networks that do not require a password. Cybercriminals can create a Wi-Fi network that im personates a public brand simply by naming it something that sounds familiar. First, verify that the public Wi-Fi option visible on your device is truly the Wi-Fi provided by an airport, hotel, coffee shop, library or shopping center.
Before tapping into Wi-Fi, make sure your device is connected through a Virtual Private Network. A VPN requires an additional login, but it encrypts all data and makes it useless to hackers.
Below are additional steps to protect your digital security while traveling:
• Bluetooth: Avoid pairing a phone’s Bluetooth with a rental car. If you must do so for navigation or
BY JOHN JOYCE Guest Columnist
communication purposes, purge the data before returning the vehicle.
• Charging: Do not use USB ports in airports and hotels because you never know what’s behind the wall. Instead, charge devices through an electrical outlet using a charging block.
• Updates: When prompted, download the latest version of the operating system. Software updates contain security patches designed to protect devices.
• Situational awareness: Avoid using devices in public places where someone can glance over your shoulder and see your screen.
• Social media: Hold off posting about your vacation and tagging your location until you return home. You never want criminals to know your whereabouts.
According to ELVTR, an online learning platform, 68% of survey respondents admitted to working while on vacation. Employers typically don’t encourage employees to work on vacation, but they should implement a set of guidelines to ensure device and network security while employees are at the beach, in the mountains or by the pool. Cybercriminals are constantly on the clock, even when you’re on vacation.
John Joyce is an owner of CRS Technology Consultants, a Cape Coral-based IT company founded in 1988. Visit CRSTC.com. Contact (239) 542-8450.
Sunset Builders and Maintenance Inc. earned the award for not only its dedication to supporting veterans but the local community.
Last but not least, the SWFL Citizen of the Year was presented to Nicole McHale. She continues to lead Community Housing & Resources charge toward a brighter future by re-imagining affordable housing. She received a standing ovation as she accepted the award.
“With everything that is required to run a stable and successful business, it’s so important to take every opportunity to celebrate both the little and big wins that come along the way. We thank and congratulate you for continuing to propel Southwest Florida into the future and for truly shaping it into a beautiful place to live and work. The INCredible Awards celebration would not have been possible without the continued support of our local sponsors. Thank you for your dedication to our organization,” said Esposito.
Naples’ professional soccer team announces crest, colors
Sports fans attended the Live Reveal of Naples’ First Professional Soccer Team’s Crest and Colors on June 15 at The Cove at Paradise Coast Sports Complex.
“As we embarked on this journey to establish the first professional soccer team in Naples, it was never uniquely about injecting excitement through professional sports into Southwest Florida. Our goal is to rally the community around the values that make us stronger. The Club’s crest and colors won’t just represent the team, they will represent the unique beauty that we cherish about Naples as well as a powerful drive to succeed that is in the heart of local residents,” said Roberto Moreno, CEO of USL Naples.
Since the United Soccer League granted a franchise to Naples, the team spent months meeting with key stakeholders, area non-profit organizations and soccer fans of all ages. During this time, hundreds of surveys were collected from residents that couldn’t provide feedback in person. Through fan interviews and listening sessions, the team gained valuable insights from local residents about the heart of the community. The team has committed to developing a brand that showcases the strength and beauty of Naples.
“When the Club’s leadership first visited with me, they promised that Naples’ first professional soccer team would be a reflection of the people that make Collier County so special,” said Collier County Commissioner Chris Hall. “Every step of the way, the team’s leadership has fulfilled on their promise. We are excited to see how the team’s crest and colors will represent our community.”
Palmview at Gulf Coast Village wins Futures Fund pitch competition
Palmview at Gulf Coast Village, Cape Coral’s only life plan community and a nonprofit partner of Volunteers of America, was named the winner of the VOA Futures Fund Annual Pitch Competition at the 2024 National Conference on May 7. VOA hosts the competition at its annual conference, where three affiliates within the VOA network pitch innovative concepts to a panel of judges to receive funding to bring their concepts to life.
Since 2017, VOA has hosted the Futures Fund Annual Pitch Competition to celebrate innovators and innovation within the organization. Over the past seven years, 13 VOA affiliates have been awarded over $120,000 in grants. Past winning concepts include health vending machines, mobile access to primary care for adolescents in treatment and music therapy for seniors.
As the winner, Palmview at Gulf Coast Village will receive a $15,000 grant to develop its new concept, “Practical Magic Kitchen,” which will use innovative cooking techniques, including molecular gastronomy, to create engaging and creative cuisine for its residents with dietary restric-
tions. As a result, all residents can enjoy the products of their weekly cooking classes.
Gulf Coast Village submitted a three-minute pitch video and a written application detailing its “Practical Magic Kitchen” concept to VOA and was declared the winner on May 7 at the 2024 National Conference in Maryland.
Each week, Palmview, Gulf Coast Village’s assisted living and memory support community, hosts weekly cooking classes for its residents, where residents collaborate with the
community’s activity team to cook and bake. Residents with dietary restrictions, such as those who require a mechanical soft texture diet or puree diet, are often not able to enjoy the weekly creations. For example, carrot cake with nuts and chocolate covered strawberries are both prohibited on specialty diets. The Palmview team began looking for alternatives and the Practical Magic Kitchen was born.
With the $15,000 grant, Gulf Coast Village will upgrade one of Palmview’s resident kitchen and dining areas into the Practical Magic Kitchen,
purchase specialty cooking and baking equipment, and host on-site events for residents featuring local chefs.
“At Palmview, we are committed to consistently seeking ways to improve resident satisfaction and engagement,” said Adrianne Gerard, memory support program manager at Palmview at Gulf Coast Village and presenter of the Practical Magic Kitchen concept. “Not only is our program unique and innovative, but it also offers a practical way to ensure all residents, regardless of dietary restrictions, are offered the same cuisine as those without.”
Gulf Coast Village is part of a group of senior living options sponsored by Volunteers of America National Services. As a life plan community, Gulf Coast Village provides seniors with all levels of senior living, including independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing and rehabilitation, memory care, home care and home health in a complete, friendly continuum on its award-winning campus. Palmview offers a comprehensive range of integrated senior care services, including assisted living and memory support with access to skilled nursing and rehabilitation, all in one place.
How do you capitalize on the business you built?
As a longtime business owner, you’ve probably spent much of your life working to make sure your company is successful. That’s meant long hours, sleepless nights, working vacations and missed family events, all to ensure that the business thrives.
Now, as you consider the next chapter of your life – retirement – what should you do with the business you built with your blood, sweat and tears? Perhaps you want to keep the business and continue living off the annual cash flow and perks of ownership. Economic conditions could dictate whether now is the right time to sell and take a lump sum. These decisions are not always straightforward. As a result, this can cause delay in owners engaging in the evaluation process and become overwhelmed with multiple “what-if” scenarios. There are three considerations to think about and understand when deciding on an efficient transition process.
Evaluating the risk
A challenge for business owners is evaluating the risk of the asset owned versus the risk of an alternative. Often, the owner has become so accustomed to the risk of owning a business that it is difficult to perceive anything else.
BY LAURA ROSS Guest Columnist
One way to measure risk is understanding the discounted cash flow value of your enterprise. This valuation method considers the future cash flow of the business that would accrue to the owners, adjusted (or discounted) for the risk in that cash flow.
Once you understand the potential risk and reward of the asset you own, it may become easier to compare it with other assets you could potentially own, such as cash or a diversified investment portfolio.
Timing is everything
When choosing between keeping a business for a few more years or selling to the next owner, many owners consider personal objectives such as lifestyle, health or leadership succession preparation.
Often overlooked, but more significant economically, are the external dynamics that can affect the timing of a transition. These include tax law changes, economic cycle dynamics, cost of capital and valuation trends and future lifestyle cost escalation.
Industry and economic trends influence timing as well. Buyers generally prefer to acquire companies when the prospects for the future are still on the upswing, influencing valuation and favorable terms.
Be in control
Decisions about your business can be complex and have a significant impact on your personal financial situation, professional future and family. Your leadership of the process, timing and structure of an ownership transition may enhance the outcomes for the company and the new owners.
Capitalizing on the business you’ve built when you’re ready for the next phase in life requires careful planning, strategic decision-making and professional guidance. By taking the necessary steps, you can help ensure a smooth transition and maximize the value of your hard work.
Laura Ross is Senior Vice President of Wealth Advisor of Clarity Wealth, a financial services practice that has built a heritage of managing the assets of affluent families for as many as four generations of wealth. The practice has offices in Naples and Fort Myers and Pittsburgh, Penn. Contact laura.ross@clarity-wealth.com or (239) 254-2225.
Adrianne Gerard of Gulf Coast Village an Tiffany Gathers of Volunteers of America
The inaugural ULI Southwest Florida Vision Awards, held on May 15 at the Miromar Lakes Golf & Beach Club, showcased exemplary leadership, groundbreaking projects and enduring corporate legacy that are shaping the future of our region. Hosted by the Urban Land Institute Southwest Florida, this event recognized the contributions of individuals, developments and corporations that embody ULI’s commitment to responsible land use and development.
Among the esteemed honorees, Mike Harris, senior associate for Halstatt Real Estate Partners, emerged as the Young Leader of the Year. Harris’s visionary leadership and dedication have set a new standard for excellence in the industry, inspiring others to strive for innovation and positive change.
In addition to honoring outstanding individuals, the Vision Awards also celebrated the ingenuity and impact of several noteworthy projects. The finalists for Project of the Year
exemplified excellence in design, sustainability and community impact.
These finalists included: Aubrey Rogers High School submitted by Owen-Ames-Kimball Company; Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach submitted by DeAngelis Diamond Construction; NeoGenomics Laboratories submitted by Studio+; and Odyssey by Soltura submitted by Halstatt Real Estate Partners.
The coveted Project of the Year title was awarded to Sunseeker Resort submitted by Suffolk Construction. This exceptional project stands as a testament to innovative design, sustainable practices and its transformative effect on the local community.
The ULI Southwest Florida Vision Awards honored Barron Collier Companies with the Corporate Legacy Award. This recognition acknowledges their consistent dedication to excellence, innovation and community engagement, underscoring an enduring impact on the region’s development landscape.
Is your business prepared for the next natural disaster?
Question: With hurricane season upon us, how should one prepare for a disruption of business due to a storm or other natural disaster?
Answer: While Hurricane Ian is still fresh in our minds, it is wise to give thought to how to deal with such an event.
Think about all the time and resources you have invested in your small business. Imagine that it’s all gone: furniture, equipment, inventory, records, everything. What would you do?
While we are powerless to prevent some accidents and acts of God, a proactive disaster management plan can mitigate the effects on your business and help speed your return to normal operation.
Here are some tips for developing a disaster management strategy.
• Identify potential hazards: In addition to natural disasters, consider man-made disasters such as fires, toxic material spills, civil unrest, vandalism and terrorism. Even if your business is not directly affected, such events could disrupt your utilities and create problems with supply chains.
• Develop an operational contingency plan: Assess the feasibility of operating out of nearby rented office or warehouse space or even your home.
Determine what equipment and other resources will be needed to continue operation. Important documents, backup copies of computer records and other vital information should be stored in the cloud or at a secure off-site location.
• Ensure the safety of employees and customers: Develop an evacuation plan that includes access to shelters, hospitals and other emergency
BY GRAY POEHLER Guest Columnist
services. Keep emergency telephone numbers clearly posted and maintain up-todate emergency contact and essential medical information for all employees.
• Perform a safety inventory: Regularly clean and test smoke detectors, changing the batteries at least once a year. Make sure you have several wellstocked first-aid kits and that all fire extinguishers are fully charged. Keep a supply of all types of batteries used in your business and purchase a portable generator for emergency power, with fuel safely stored.
• Review your business insurance coverage: Your coverage should be enough to get your business back in operation at the earliest possible date. It should cover the replacement cost of buildings, contents and essential facilities, as well as loss of income due to business interruption. Most business owner policies do not cover floods or earthquakes. These coverages may be purchased separately.
A qualified, professional commercial insurance agent can prove to be a valuable resource in crafting a disaster management plan for your business. Remember the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Gray Poehler is a volunteer with the Naples Chapter of SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business. Contact (239) 430-0081, Visit Score. org/Naples/Local-Mentors
Grace Conover, Priscylla Oliva, Michelle Mambuca, Cee Cee Marinelli, Brian Goguen, JJ Wong, Jeff Sonalia and Nick Casalanguida of Barron Collier Companies attend the Vision Awards.
According to Schrotenboer, “Up till now, they’ve have mild success at best trying to bring in third party operators to lease land at Skyplex. And in those situations, those operators, such as Alta and Gartner, had to take on the entitlements themselves, do the infrastructure to support their development. And it’s taken years for those projects to get done.”
He noted there have also been significant end users that bypassed Skyplex because they don’t want the two- to three-year risk it takes to go through the entitlement process.
The idea here, he said, is to bring Skyplex to shovel-ready status, making it more developer-friendly. In return, the LCPA can earn a much higher land lease. “Keep in mind there’s no selling of property here. This is all land leases to support Skyplex, because the property cannot be sold. It is also restricted from including residential development.”
The other reason is a diversification of income. The airport is heavily reliant upon airport fees or airline fees as well as car rental fees, he noted. That’s great, he said, particularly when tourists are coming in record numbers.
But when you have pandemics and hurricanes, that drops off pretty significantly, he pointed out, so it’s good to have other opportunities to diversify income that spreads the risk. “That’s why we have been retained to look at Skyplex,” he said.
“We did a very comprehensive market study on this project and from that, have identified all of the major businesses working in the retail, hotel and logistics sectors in the geographical area immediately surrounding Skyplex.”
Skyplex is strategically located within Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. It also has tremendous opportunities because it has not been developed over the years of growth that have come about around it, particularly in eastern Lee County, he indicated.
“Our conceptual plan has only identified 571 acres of developmental land. So we don’t have enough land to even feed what we think the markets could support,” Schrotenboer said.
“Our idea behind this plan was to concentrate the development, not spread it out over 1800 acres. Part of that is because there is a number of high-quality wetlands that kind of are our bookends for the project to help create a little bit of concentration. We’re clustering compatible uses for flexibility for a long-term project that could go up 20-plus years into the future.
“We came up with a matrix to identify what some of the other airports around the country are doing that we thought might work here, overlaid with specific performance and economic criteria, as well as airport operation criteria.”
He described the plan. “What we have included in the more scenic area
with possibilities with possibilities
also fully mitigated, from a wetlands and land standpoint.
“Based on our research, this investment by the LCPA is estimated to be $131 million for all of the backbone infrastructure and to make Skyplex shovel-ready,” he said.
This plan includes an 8- to 9-year break-even point. What does this project mean on a regional basis? Just with construction, the economic impact is estimated to be $4.2 billion to the threecounty region.
of Skyplex is lifestyle-directed businesses like dining, hotel facilities, entertainment. We then have some flex tech space and commercial space because it’s a continuation of some existing likespace. There’s also space for the life sciences, medical and human performance. In the section that sits closer to Daniels and I-75, we’re proposing perhaps a transient hotel, a gas station and additional retail.
“In the areas that sit further back from the roadways and away from scenic views, we’re looking at air maintenance and repair facilities, perhaps space for expansion of private aviation or logistics companies. Cold storage and cargo could also be in this area: aerospace research and development could also be in one section. So we’ve taken a lot of time to strategically locate all the ‘pieces.’”
He stated, “This plan now gives us direction for when we start recruiting businesses for catalyst projects: we can now start directing them to certain locations.”
The concept is that the LCPA makes the investment and puts in all of the backbone infrastructure, doing all the clearing and the fillings of the site. It’s
Flowing Flowing
Ideally situated on the sunny Southwest Florida coast, Cape Coral is a beautiful place to live, vacation, and locate a business.
“We are also looking at about 20,000 hours of construction labor which is basically 2000 jobs over a decade period of time,” he continued. “This is very significant when we look at the reoccurring revenue from the operations. We’re looking at approximately $2.9 billion and close to 21,000 jobs. 13,000 jobs are directly related to Skyplex and 8000 are other jobs in the region. We’re also looking at a reoccurring impact of $39 million. So not only is this a viable project allowing the LCPA to diversify its income, but the airport continues to be a huge economic provider for our region.
“We are getting very close to going into phase three, which is primarily finishing the design and going into all the entitlements and permitting. But the other important thing we’ll be doing is coming up with some funding sources for the LCPA.”
Schrotenboer added, “Since the LCPA doesn’t have $131 million sitting in the coffers, we’re really concentrating on phase one, which is raising between $31 and $35 million. That way we could get the project initiated and get some revenue in the door. We’ll be looking at public-private partnerships so we can fund at least the first phase of this 20year project.”
With our low cost of living and no state income tax, the 8th largest city in Florida still has abundant open land to develop
Whether it’s tech, logistics, back-office operations, light industry, or a significant corporation, Cape Coral is home to the largest workforce residing in one city between Miami and Tampa.
Donald Schrotenboer, managing partner of REALVIZORY, shared the longterm plans for Skyplex at Southwest Florida International Airport.
Like Thomas Edison, we believe there is always “a better way.” It’s why we take the foundations of good banking – meaningful relationships, personalized services and onsite decision-making – and build upon them to deliver innovative, safe banking solutions for the modern user.
Whether you need business or personal banking services, Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands is dedicated to empowering you to reach your goals.
Robbie Roepstorff, President and Geoffrey Roepstorff, CEO
